Event

BRIEF BACKGROUND 

Without a doubt, OBAN is one of the pivotal communities in the development drive of Ejagham nation culturally and otherwise. It is therefore not a surprise that the OBAN extraction became the creator of a flagship annual cultural festival that has become the arena for socio-cultural interactions and entertainment, allaying a blend of undiluted unity in cultural oneness.

This innovation is aimed at the revival of the Ejagham tradition, customs and culture encapsulated in the display of a variety of beautiful dances, colourful masquerades, super tasty cuisine and rich art and crafts of Ejagham people.

As the saying goes ‘’ give honour to whom it is due’’. It is therefore proper to mention that the Akachak as it is perceived today was the brainchild of Late Justice (Chief) Peter Odo Effiong Bassey. He conceptualised and presented the idea at Oban Congress with encouragement of his brother the Late Prof Charles Effiong (1^st indigenous Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar) and the support of the  Oban Ntufam’s Council in 1982.

The Oban Congress was initially a gathering of the Oban people who came together to discuss issues affecting the community. These congresses were lengthy. So it was decided to incorporate some side attraction to make the congress more entertaining. So in 1984, the first pieces of entertainment added were drama presentations and cultural dances competition. Three years later the Miss Oban Beauty Pageant was introduced. Fast forward, in 2009 Oban Ntufam’s Council resolved to host a full-fledged cultural festival in Oban.

After the blueprint was drawn, eligible age groups were directed to create the different Ejagham cultural displays (masquerades and dances). This new festive activity was named the AKACHAK FESTIVAL. So in 2010, the Oban Akachak Festival was inaugurated. The inaugural edition featured six age grades with only Ekan Offa presenting a masquerade called Mgban Offa.

The festival also features other fun events during this festive period apart from the Miss Oban beauty pageant. They include excursion to Sir Amory Talbot Peak of Oban Hills between 2010-2017 and Etae Itokem (Itokem’s Rock) in 2018, Besinghe (wrestling), Age Grade football competition, Native cuisines competition, Akachak 10km Marathon and other side attractions.

AT THE CORE OF OBAN AKACHAK FESTIVAL

“The Ejagham people have always been known for their rich culture, mastery of sculptures and other distinct aspects of traditions” (Chief POE Bassey, History of Oban). Today, the young generation are completely oblivious of the Ejagham tradition, customs and cultural heritage. This lack of knowledge amongst the youths has allowed traditional lapses and created behavioural impudence towards trado-cultural beliefs.  Embedded at the core of Oban Akachak Festival is the revival of the body of knowledge of Ejagham Tradition. The Akachak festival has therefore become a melting pot of the rich accumulations of Ejagham tradition, customs, culture and values.

Bakor is formed from two Ejagham words :” Ba “and “kor“.

“Ba” means come.

“Kor” means take.

Bakor means ‘Come and Take’.

During the advent of colonial administration, Ayokaba descendants within the central and The present cross river state North were shared between Ikom and Ogoja administrative areas for administrative convenience.

In Ikom , were the following Nde, Nnam, Nta, Nsele, Abanyum and Ofutop. In Ogoja administrative area was, Ekajuk, Nkum and Nkem traditional clans of Ejagham speaking people.

In order to maintain their cultural bond of Brotherhood, that has kept the Ayokaba descendants right from time, great sons of Nkum, Nkem, Ekajuk , Abanyum, Nde, Nsele,and Nnam met at Alok, to see how, they can come up with a cultural union of all the Ayokaba descendants of Ikom and Ogoja administrative areas.

All this took place during the reign of great kings such as HRH Ntol Robert Mgbe of Alok, HRH Ntol Gregory Ibre Adima of Nkum, HRH Ntol Itashu Mgbeje of Nkem, and other clans heads . Among the illustrious sons and daughters who initiated this action were Late chief EE Monjok, Ntol Philip Nakuku, Justice Fidelis Ikogor Nnang, Chief JI C Igbe, Chief Ishong Ayim, MR Nkor, Hon. Akumjom, Akayi Ifop and many others.

When it was resolved that a Union of Ayokaba descendants of Ikom and Ogoja administrative areas come together to form a cultural union to promote and preserve their cultural values, and refresh their brotherhood, the issue of under which umbrella body arose. This first meeting ended successfully, and all members present were given an assignment to come to the next meeting with a suggested name for general endorsement by the house in the next meeting.

When they all met in the second meeting, the name suggested by late justice Nnang was taken, which is Bakor, the two common words that mean the same in all the nine (9) clans of Ayokaba descendants . The hospitality of the Bakor man and woman that believe in sharing, quickly made this name to be generally accepted and endorsed by all. That was how the Bakor cultural union came to be, with Ntol Gregory Ibre Adima, the Ntol Atol one of Nkum, emerging as the pioneer Grand commander.

Yes Bakor is a name that really speaks of the Bakors generosity.

In Bakor, it is wickedness and selfishness of the highest degree to eat your meals indoors.

In Bakor you must invite any passer-by to join you in your meals.

In Bakor, you must share your crops with a very large number of friends and extended family members yearly.

In Bakor, any one who passes around your farm during harvest, you must give him a yam to take home.

In Bakor, when you are about to prepare a meal, you must make provision for the unknown visitors.

Yes, in Bakor you must be the father to any orphan in your mist.

In Bakor the visitors are given preferred attention in all acts of sharing.

Bakor is an invitation to share. Hospitality is Bakor’s common identity. What is not shareable among them are wives, husbands and children.

To promote their cultural values, it was resolved that New yam be celebrated by all the member clans of the Bakor union on the same date, and the venue rotated among the Eight( 8 ) initial clans to foster the unity and refresh the clans affinity as true descendants of Ayokaba the great, not minding the colonial administrative lines.

Later, the Ofutop clan joined the Bakor union making the Ninth clan.

The month for the celebration was taken as September of every year. 15 September was agreed as the date. Nine clans , coming together, To offer thanks giving to God On the Ninth month of every year. That is the Bakors refreshing themselves for the purpose of keeping their bonded love alive and aglow.

New yam celebration among the Bakors is older than the Bakor union. It has been the sacrifice of thanksgiving to God by the descendants of Agba , Otuboki performed by the chief priest , Ayokaba while on their journey from Central Africa. It is the sacrifice of the first fruits to the God of fertility, and giver of plenty.

Yam, among the Bakors, is regarded as the king of all crops. The movement of these three (3)Zulu great warriors and their descendants took them many years before they arrived at their final destinations. The major crop that survived them at the time was yam.

To the Bakor man , yam is a mysterious crop that speaks volumes about life. The manner in which yam grows left the Bakor to treat it with all respect as a very major item of annual thanks giving to God.

Firstly, there is a long preparation that starts with reconciliation of aggrieved members of the Bakor families. The Bakor farmer goes to his farm, harvesting as many tubers on the eve of new yam. He shares these to his aged and dependent large extended family members, friends and Neighbours. He takes some to his in-laws with some other gifts of palm wine and clothes.

First is the celebration in the house by the head of the home, where for those who believe in the traditional African religion will appease their gods. Those who have embraced Christianity would gather with their tubers of new yams to be blessed in their various churches. When this is done, the grand finale new yam celebration is now done in the selected venue for the year. Here, all the people are gathered with their visitors, neighbours and well wishers in an open place, well decorated.

The Royal fathers are seen in their proper regalia coming out in a single row, ushered in by a special Divine dancing group that usher in peace and protection for all. The Royal fathers move in union ,in their regal steps to the farm within the venue, which is planted for purpose of the celebration, and religiously dig out the white new yam, and raised it to God in thanksgiving, while the people shout for joy, and in appreciation of God’s kindness, favour and wonders, for blessing the works of their hands.

The chief celebrant, assisted by other senior Royal fathers, now hand over the new yam to the ready maidens, well tutored on their religious assignment. They now roast the yams carefully, in a specially prepared camp fire, peel it as instructed, prepare the special palm oil stew, and gently, but with an inviting smile, place it before the Royal fathers. At this point, each clan Head is called upon to share in the roasted yam.

It is a way of renewing the bond of unity among the children of Ayokaba, sharing once more the very food that provided their great ancestors with the strength they needed for their journey to the promised land.

To the Bakors, new yam is like the Holy Eucharist, that draws the people closer to God in thanksgiving, and reunites the people with God, the giver of all . while deepening their belief in life after death, as in the mystery of a half or a very small tuber of yam sowed in the ground becoming a whole bigger yam after seven (7) months of intensive care for the yam farm.

The people eat this special unity food in solemnity, sharing it with visitors and friends ;and after this, other food items and drinks are served to all amidst traditional dances displayed from all the nine clans.

Farmers’ competition, and other games are the side attractions that make the celebration more enjoyable. Miss Bakor eventually emerges yearly. To the Bakors, the new yam celebration is the highest festival. It draws the people to nature, and reminds them that, like the old yam, if properly taken care of, gives rise to a new tuber of yam, living a good life with neighbours and relating well with God can give you a good place among the ancestors even after death. It is a time to reflect on life and the invisible hand of God in the affairs of man, as evidenced in the mystery of who changes the old yam to the new one being celebrated on the new yam day.

15th September every year is a day that all Ejagham tribes, the Bantu all over the world, their friends and Neighbours should come and share in the very rich culture of the Bakor generosity.

The name Bakor is an invitation on its own, meaning “Come and Take“.

By Dr. Phillip Ibol

BAKOR NEW YAM FESTIVAL 2019

It was all pump and pageantry in Ofutop when the nine clans of Bakor, for the first time, converged in the clan to celebrate centrally, the Bakor new yam festival.

In the St. Mary’s Primary School playing ground at Abragba where the occasion featured, over ten thousand people watched the various activities which were kick-started with a church service from the Catholic Church. This was quickly followed with the traditional symbolic cleansing of the land by the ATAM masquerade.

This colourful ceremony witnessed the traditional harvesting, roasting and eating of the new yam by the nine clan heads of Bakor with their host, Ntun  Bassey Okey leading the way.

The ovation knowing no bound, as the various clan’s traditional dances thrilled the mammoth gathering, the best farmer clan competition took its turn.

 The Competition

Of the six out of the nine clans that participated, Abanyum, Nkim and Nkum took the first, second and third positions respectively

The Chief Judge of the competition, Dr. Ikani Wogar, confessed that it was a herculean task to come by the above decision.

According to him, the two species of the yam – AGBOJA and ADENYI have different maturity time frame, despite the fact that they are cultivated the same time.

While AGBOJA matures after the month of September, he explained, ADENYI matures before or in September, thus would necessarily have an edge over the other in size.

Dr. Wogar then advised that there should be two categories of competition in subsequent celebrations. Doing this, he noted, would give equal opportunity to the contestants in the two groups.

In their decision to allow Abanyum clinch the 1st position, the chief judge explained that the committee based its decision on the fact that AGBOJA is a native of Bakor while ADENYi was introduced to Bakor.

Thus, notwithstanding the admirable sizes of Nkim five yams, the latter had to cede its position to the other, on nativity basis.

However, while Abanyum went home with N20,000.00 (was this to each participant), the others winners made do with less, with N10,000.00 to each of the participants. This, it was explained, was to serve as an incentive.

Earlier in his welcome address, the president of the Bakor Union, Chief Moses Ale Ujum explained the theme of the year’s celebration, – THE FACE OF BAKOR NATION.

According to him. It means …events consciously and deliberately intended to promote and celebrate the identity, pride and dignity of the Bakor nation and culture in all its spheres…

Farm Weeding and Mound Making

The Ishi Ibohr Bakor New Yam Festival of 2019 almost reached its crescendo on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019 when the duo of Chief Ray Ugban Murphy and Capt. Hart Modey’s activities kept the Ogoja community in recreational mood round the clock.

The highly publicised activities of the day drew members of the former Eastern Nigeria outstanding urban center, Ogoja, to the premises of Iteg Inyamagum Guest House, for the farm weeding and mound making competitions, and their subsequent float to Itegela Ureng – the traditional playground for the dancing competition.

The weeding which had 32 females and 28 males for mound making, of diverse age grades and occupation, had Dr. Ikani Wogar as the chief judge.

GRAND FINALE: ISHI IBOHR NEW YAM FIESTA

The Bakor New Yam Festival, centrally celebrated by the nine clans of Bakor on September 15, 2019 at Abragba – Ofutop in Ikom Local Government, had its climax in Nkim, in Ogoja Local Government.

People from all walks of life were at the occasion at the Ishi Ibohr traditional playground, as early as 11 am after church officiated by Rev Dr. Fidelis Kagibia of the Catholic Church

The abrupt drizzling which constricted faces notwithstanding, the major and minor ethnic groups of the country flocked in alongside their traditional dances, among whom were the Igbo, Tiv, Yoruba, Hausa/Fulani, Yala among others.

The over fifty thousand capacity traditional playground remained decked with a sea of people which never depleted as the people watched tirelessly the memorable events unfolding, one after the other, soon after the arrival of the Ogoja monarch – Ntol Ama Mgbeje III and his queen – Rose

Dances that exude memories of unity in diversity were the ULAGA of the Igbo, the Leopard dance of the Tivs, the Owambe of the Yoruba, the Spinning top of the Yala, name it, plus the UNBEATABLE dancing group of Nkim which thrilled the Bakor nation at Abragba just as the Mmon-a-Nkim pageantry group.

Illustrious sons of the land, who had served the country and their community in various capacities and were still invaluable to the community, were honored with befitting titles.

The known oldest man in Nkim, who was once a member of the national assembly – Chief Charles Aleje Adoga, age 92, was honored with the affirmation of the title: NDE ABON (the father of children) by the Bakor nation.

Chief Joseph Inyambe Cyril Igbe a.k.a JIC, age 83, was conferred with the title INANGIJA (the battle field warrior).

As for Chief Paul Ugabi Adeshi, age 80, a retired school principal and the leader of the Ishi Ibohr Elders Forum bagged the title: NTOB IGAN (One who authoritatively halts erring persons and happenings).

The beneficiaries whose citations drew overwhelming ovations were decorated by the monarch himself – His Royal Highness Ama Mgbeje the III, assisted by his dear wife Rose.

While the Ohaneze Ndi Igbo of Cross River State and the leader of the Igbo’s in Ogoja Prince Alozie Ugochukwu declared Patrick Akpak Murphy as the best farmer of the year, with Philip Ujajar and Ikag Agbanda following respectively, the leader of the Tiv, Yoruba and Hausa handed out the prizes to the winners.

Miss Bakor 2019 Beauty Pageant

Ms. Regina Edi of Ekajuk clan was presented amid thunderous ovation with her runners up – Maryann Anor Ntol of Nkim clan and Jacinta Ateng Moko of Nkum clan.

Hanging on to Regina, the adjudged most beautiful girl in the Ogoja Bakor group of clans, the keys to a car donated by the sponsor – MTN, Dr. Ikani Wogar observed that being a party to those who scrutinised the contestants, there was no misgiving whatsoever in the choice of Regina.

 Calling on this Bakor damsel to live up to expectation, he assured the organisers – MTN that the community would be fully involved in the exercise, come 2020.

As the royal train took its leave to start ushering in performing artists, the colourfully dressed members of the His Royal Highness wife’s age grade – Astar, encapsulated the train to the palace with songs that break the heart for not being so lucky to be the wife to an Ntol.

EVENTS IN PICTURES

See for yourself the rich and rare cultural expressions of the Ejagham nation comprising of Akamkpa, Bakor, Etung, Qua, Ejagham Cameroon etc.